Bloom told the opening press conference at the Frankfurt Messe that the 2011 show came amid "a gradual upswing in the industry".

Bloom said the industry was "more outward looking than a year ago" and said emerging market economies would be areas to watch to power global economic growth. He quoted a McKinsey report claiming 400 mid-range cities in emerging market countries were set to generate 40 per cent of world growth.

He said the Messe and the city did not take IMEX for granted and "continuted to do their utmost to support IMEX. Frankfurt and IMEX are a good fit," he added.

German Convention Bureau MD Mathias Schultze also noted record numbers of association meeting planners had attended the IMEX Associaiton Day and Evening, 23 May. The German stand had grown to 2,500sqm, with 204 exhibitors, also a record number.

The morning's keynote was delivered by MPI Chairman Eric Rozenberg, who said the goal for all was "moving meetings and events forward". He said never again would the industry be caught lacking ideas to explain its business case.